I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 1/27/11)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change existing
gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
III. Language
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
IV: Expressive Arts
IX: American & European
if requesting
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
X
general
w/ lab  w/out lab X
education
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program Anthropology
Course #
ANTY 211
Course Title
Prerequisite
Anthropological Genetics
none
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
3
Date
11/20/12
Instructor
Randall R. Skelton
Phone / Email 4245/randall.skelton@umontana.edu
Program Chair Gilbert Quintero
Dean
Christopher Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
4 year review
Description of change
NA
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
This is a course in basic human genetics from an anthropological perspective. Its goal is to
provide the student with an overview of DNA, inheritance, and evolution at the population
level then show how these topics are relevant to the study of human nature.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural
Genetics is a discipline in the natural
sciences and demonstrate how the scientific
sciences. The scientific method will be
method is used within the discipline to draw
described explicitly and there will be many
scientific conclusions;
examples of how it is used to draw
conclusions.
2. Courses address the concept of analytic
uncertainty and the rigorous process required to
take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a
validated scientific theory;
Statistical testing of certain types of
hypotheses will be presented. Inevitably,
there will be some treatment of current
debates in anthropological genetics and these
will be opportunities to show how ideas
progress from preliminary suggestions to
consensus positions in the field.
Not applicable – no lab.
3. Lab courses engage students in inquiry-based
learning activities where they formulate a
hypothesis, design an experiment to test the
hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present
the data to support their conclusions.
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
1. understand the general principles associated
Readings and assignments will be used to
with the discipline(s) studied;
guide the students into understanding the
general principles of anthropological
genetics.
2. understand the methodology and activities
Readings and assignments will be used to
scientists use to gather, validate and interpret
help the students understand the
data related to natural processes;
methodology and activities that scientists
use to gather, validate and interpret data
related to natural processes.
3. detect patterns, draw conclusions, develop
Many aspects of anthropological genetics,
conjectures and hypotheses, and test them by
especially the evolutionary mechanisms
appropriate means and experiments;
operating on populations involve detection
of patterns. Readings and assignments will
be used to help students to detect these
patterns, formulate a hypothesis based upon
them, and test the hypothesis against data
and the history/archaeology of the
population.
4. understand how scientific laws and theories
Readings and assignments will be used to
are verified by quantitative measurement,
help the students understand how selected
scientific observation, and logical/critical
scientific theories were/are verified.
reasoning; and
There will be aspects of statistical testing.
5. understand the means by which analytic
For example the chi-squared test for
uncertainty is quantified and expressed in the
whether a population is in Hardy-Weinberg
natural sciences.
equilibrium.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
NA
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Anthropology 211N: Human Genetics
Summer Session II, 2011
Affiliate Instructor:
Ryan W. Schmidt, PhD Candidate
Department of Anthropology
University of Montana
Class Dates & Location:
The online course runs from June 27, 2010
– July 29, 2010. It is taught online, through
Moodle (http://umonline.umt.edu/).
Contact Information:
Phone: 702-274-7123 (mobile)
Email: ryan2.schmidt@umontana.edu; or
schmidtrw@gmail.com
No Physical Office Hours: I will be
teaching this course from Mongolia.
Please use email to reach me.
Virtual Office Hours in Bb: M, W, F: 12 –
2
Tech Support:
UMOnline: 406.243.6367; or
http://umonline.umt.edu (Contact Us tab)
Course Overview: This online-based human genetics course is intended for nonbiology majors. We will cover the basic concepts of anthropological genetics
including:
 the basic biological understanding of cell division, DNA structure, gene
interaction, mutation and Mendelian inheritance;
 the use of DNA markers to understand human evolution;
 the fundamentals of population genetics and a population genetic
perspective for reconstructing human origins;
Target Student: Students who have enrolled in ANTH 211, Human Genetics are ultimately
interested in what we can learn from genetics in an anthropological context. As a web-based
course, you need to be self-motivated, be an efficient time manager, and actively seek out
knowledge from your peers, myself, or resources found on the Web. We do not meet every
week and therefore will need to keep up with the course material. Just like in a traditional
classroom, please do not fall behind with your work.
Prerequisite Skills and Knowledge: I assume you have some background in biology,
chemistry and mathematics. As this course is intended for non-biology majors, we will not be
as technical; however, you are going to be required to learn and memorize a variety of terms
that you may not be familiar. The mathematics of population genetics will not be too difficult –
simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Course Importance and Relevance: In today’s society, the discussion of genetics is becoming
more mainstream, but at the same time, more complex. In this course, you will understand key
concepts, principles, and processes that are central to the study of human genetics; in addition
to cultivating a greater recognition of the larger ethical, familial, and social processes in the
complex world of human genetics. After completing this course, you will have the requisite
tools and knowledge to appreciate human genetic complexities, whether in the classroom, the
front page of the newspaper, or found in social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Expected Student Learning Outcomes:
Learning Outcomes:
Assessments:
1. Understand the structure of the cell,
cell division, Mendelian inheritance,
and the nature of chromosomes.
Learning Units 1-3:
This includes presentations from the text,
text-based readings, web-based resources,
assignment 1 and 2, and exam 1.
2. Learn the basics of DNA, protein
synthesis, amino acids, and mutation.
Learning Unit 4. Includes assignments 3
and 4, exam 2, lectures, readings,
electronic resources (web and textbook).
3. Understand the fundamentals of
population genetics, human biological
variation and the use of race as a
biological construct.
Learning Unit 5. Readings, lectures,
assignment 5, Exam 3.
Participation and Grading Criteria:
Participation Expectations: No class meetings will be held in a classroom, so attendance is
irrelevant. However, continuous progress in the class is required.
All students are required to be present and visible each week throughout the semester. This
means spending time on Blackboard to go over the presentation material and access web-based
resources.
Assignments and Assessments: During the summer session there will be
 Three (3) multiple choice, T/F and fill-in-the-blank exams (100 points each; weighed
25% each).
 Five(5) assignments (20 points each; weighted 5% each).
 There is an overall total of 400 points.
 There is a voluntary comprehensive exam. If you are unsatisfied with one of your first 3
exam grades, the final can substitute for your lowest score.
Exam Schedule:
Exam 1 (Chapters 1-6) – Due by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 17
Exam 2 (Chapters 8,9,11) – Due by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, July 24
Exam 3 (Chapter 19) – Due by 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 28
Final Exam (optional) – Due by 11:59 p.m. Friday, July 29
Exams will consist of 50 questions (2 point per question). All exams will be available the week
they are assigned and are timed. Please note that you will have two (2) hours to complete each
exam. You will have four (4) hours to complete the final. The final exam consists of 100
questions, one point each.
A few things to note when taking the quizzes and exams. All quizzes and exams are given
online and are found in their own tab located on the left of the screen, called either “Quiz” or
“Exam”. Questions are presented one at a time. DO NOT attempt to navigate out of the quiz
and exam. If you do so, Blackboard will LOCK YOU OUT. When this happens, I have to go
in and clear your attempt. Let me be more clear. If you accidentally hit the “Back” button in
your browser, it will lock you out, even if you have completed 49 of 50 questions. Also, if you
become locked out, I generally cannot see your completed answers, requiring you to take the
quiz or exam from the beginning.
Grading Scale: You can expect your final grade to be assigned using the following scale:
A = 90% and up, B = 80-89%, C = 60-79%, D = 60-51%, F = 50% or less.
Course Textbook
Michael Cummings
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues, 9th Edition (2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0-538-49882-1
Course Policies and Procedures:
Email Addresses: For all correspondence I will use your official University of Montana email
address. If you do not know how to access your official University email instructions can be
found at http://www.umt.edu/it/support/email/. If you are like me, checking your University
email is more pain than it is worth. If you want to forward your UMConnect to an off-campus
address, this is fine, but please make a note that ALL correspondence will be through your .edu
account. This is important because I will be making frequent announcements through
Blackboard and these get forwarded onto your UMConnect email. So check often.
Class Materials: The class materials are on the Moodle system. You should have been notified
by email about how to access this system. If not, contact me immediately. All materials for
successful completion of the class are on the Moodle system.
Late Assignments Policy: Each of your assignments has a specific time for when it is available
and when it becomes unavailable. Because of this, late assignments will not be accepted. The
only exception to this policy is in the case of extreme illness and you are not able to complete
the assignment. In this case, you must notify me immediately of your sickness and we will
work out a time for you to take the exam.
Academic Integrity: Students will be held to the provisions of the Student Conduct Code,
online at http://life.umt.edu/VPSA/name/StudentConductCode, with regards to cheating,
plagiarism, abusive language, and other issues. Violations will not be tolerated.
Disabilities: Every effort has been made to make the online materials accessible to students
with disabilities. If you have a problem accessing the materials, you should let your instructor
know what accommodation you need. I assume that accommodation services and facilities will
be provided by the Disability Services for Students office (see http://www.umt.edu/dss/).
Technical Requirements: As this is a strictly web-based course, you will obviously need to
have some technical requirements such as downloads or plug-ins. This web page lists those that
may be required to complete the course: http://umonline.umt.edu/StudentInfo/plugins.htm
[Note that the menu of your Bb course site, by default, includes a link to Technical Support for
your students.]
Readiness for Online Learning: If this is your first course in your program’s sequence or a
lower division course, you may want to refer to the Blackboard tutorial (see
http://umonline.umt.edu/StudentInfo/ for details). You can also go to a “readiness for online
learning” assessment from that same web page.
Course Syllabus
Week
Learning Unit
Topics Covered
Readings
Introduction to Genetics
Cells & Cell Division
1
1
June 27 – July 3
Chapters 1-3
Transmission of genes from generation
to generation (Mendel)
Assignment 1 due by 11:59 p.m.
Sunday, July 3
Units 1: covers chapters 1-3
Pedigree Analysis in Human Genetics
2
July 4 – 10
2
Interaction of Genes and the
Environment
Assignment 2 due
Unit 2: covers chapters 4 and 5
Chapters 4
and 5
Human Chromosomes: Cytogenetics
Assignment 3 Due
3
3
July 11 - 17
Exam 1 due by 11:59 p.m.
Sunday July 18
Units 1 – 3: covers chapters
1-6.
DNA Structure and Chromosome
Organization
Gene Expression: from genes to
proteins
4
Assignment 4 Due
4
Mutation
Exam 2 Due:
11: 59 p.m. July 25
Covers Chapters 8, 9, and
11.
July 18 – 24
Assign 3 due
by 11:59 pm
Thursday
July 14
Chapter 6
Chapters 8,
9, and 11
Assign 4
due by
Thursday
July 21
Exam 2 due
by Sunday
July 24th.
Population Genetics and Human
Evolution
5
July 25 - 29
5
Exam 3 Due
11:59 p.m.
Friday July 29: Covers only
chapter 19.
Assign 5 due
by
Wednesday
July 27th:
Chapter 19
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.